Everyone has their favorite cookie to put out for Santa on Christmas Eve. Whether it's classic gingerbread men with royal icing or snowflake sugar cookies decorated with festive frosting, the Christmas treat options during the holidays are simply endless. If you're trying to figure out which holiday desserts to serve at your Christmas party this year, we're here to help. We've rounded up our all-time favorite Christmas cookies — including traditional recipes as well as unique ideas — that feature seasonal ingredients and fun decorations. We've even included allergy-friendly, gluten-free, and vegan options, too.
Your household may have a popular treat they can't wait to devour every year around Christmas, but sometimes it's exciting to spend a snowy afternoon experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes — so we say go ahead and try something new this year! While you can always bake a batch to enjoy after Christmas dinner or to have on hand to pair with your favorite holiday cocktail, these festive biscuits also make a delicious food gift for family members, friends, and neighbors. Wrap up a tray or basket with a bow and a Christmas card, and you have an affordable present that pretty much anyone would be happy to receive.
STEVE GIRALT
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Santa and Elf Cookies
These triangle-shaped cookies are just as fun to decorate as they are to eat, and they double as a fun arts-and-crafts project.
Use up that bottle of molasses you bought for other holiday treats with this 10-ingredient recipe that can be on the table faster than Prancer can guide Santa's sleigh on a clear winter night.
Peanut butter cookies may not be the first recipe that comes to your mind when you think "Christmas," but they are truly a staple treat that works for every occasion. Plus, this recipe happens to be gluten-free for allergy-friendly parties.
To get green Christmas cookies without using any food coloring, try adding matcha to shortbread biscuits (and then top them off with red sprinkles if you really want to feel festive).
Even with someone with minimal baking skills can manage to make these easy-from-scratch cookies, which get some holiday cheer from a sprinkling of red and green M&Ms.
Corinne SullivanContributing WriterCorinne Sullivan is a digital writer and editor who covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, holidays and more.
Elizabeth BerryEditorial AssistantElizabeth Berry (she/her) is the digital editorial assistant for Woman’s Day, where she covers seasonal recipes, holiday gift ideas, and other lifestyle topics for the website.
